Chronic Absenteeism

This graph shows the percentage of students who miss 10% percent or more of school days per year either with or without a valid excuse.

Illinois law defines “chronic absentee” as a student who misses 10 percent of school days within an academic year with or without a valid excuse. That’s 18 days of an average 180-day school year. Excused absences include illness, suspension, need to care for a family member, etc. Students need daily instruction in order to succeed. Chronic absentees are at risk of academic and social problems.